Four face charges following alleged T.J. Maxx purse thefts

Monday

Jun 30, 2014 at 8:06 PM

New York State Police in Canandaigua charged four women on Saturday, June 28, with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony, and possession of burglar’s tools, a misdemeanor, after a traffic stop on Route 332 in Farmington.

Melody Burrimelody@messengerpostmedia.com

New York State Police in Canandaigua charged four women on Saturday, June 28, with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony, and possession of burglar’s tools, a misdemeanor, after a traffic stop on Route 332 in Farmington.

Syracuse residents Rukaiyan T. Austin, 37; Angela A. Williams, 52; Vanessa Williams, 50; and Hasha A. Outley, 18; were charged Saturday after police found more than $1,400 in merchandise in their possession, which had allegedly been taken from T.J. Maxx in Canandaigua.

The majority of the stolen goods were purses, some with foil wrapped around the security devices, police said. The foil is used as a countermeasure for store security scanners — the prompted the burglar tools charge, they said.

The women were processed and arraigned in Hopewell Town Court and sent to Ontario County Jail. Angela Williams was remanded without bail, a result of multiple previous felony convictions, police said. Vanessa Williams was remanded on $5,000 cash bail. Outley and Austin were remanded on $1,000 cash bail. All are scheduled to re-appear in court on Thursday July 3, at 1 p.m.